Conduit supporting clip



July 3, 1945.

H. R. ELL INWOOD CONDUIT SUPPORTING CLIP OriginalFiled Aug. 24, 1940 Patented July 3, 1945 CONDUIT SUPPORTING CLIP Herman Ray Ellinwood, Burbank, Calif.,

assignor to Adel Precision Products Corp, a corporation of California Original application Au 354,105. Divided 1942, Serial No. 438,487

('Cl. 174 m) Claims.

This invention relates to aircraft conduit sup-- porting clips of the type shown in United States Letters Patent No. 2,215,283, issued on September 17, 1946, to Paul W. Adler.

The present application is a division of my pending application Serial Number 354,105 filed August 2%, 1e49, for Conduit supporting clip, Patand: No. 2,279,866 issued April 14, 194 .2.

An object of the "ride a line supporting clipfor the purpose herepresent invention is to proinbeiore noted, which will afford a reliable, fullcushioned and thoroughly electrically grounded connection of a conduit line with the metal structure of the airplane on which the clip is mounted, and maintain these desirable qualities over long periods of time regardless of vibration.

A further object is to provide a clip of the character described in which the cushion is carried so that it will not become displaced and fail its purpose incident to vibration or relative movement of the line and clip.

' A further purpose is to provide a line supporting clip such as described in which the grounding strip or element may be formed as an integral part or permanently connected part of the clip for increasing the ruggedness of the clip and directly contacting the conduit.

Another object if my invention is to provide a clip of the character described wherein a bonding strip is formed integrally with or fixed to the strap and protrudes through the cushion for a yielding contact with the conduit in such manner as to more effectively and directly bond the conduit to the strap without impairing the cushioning efiect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conduit clip of the character described wherein the metal strap is provided at opposite points in the loop portion thereof with bonding strips which protrude through the cushion and are of such formation and arrangement as to provide a balanced clip'constructi'on, with the conduit uniformly contacted by and seated on the cushion and bonding elements to best support and bond it without undue wear on or failure of the clip and conduit.

With the foregoing objects in View, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a clip embodying my invention and when in use;

formed integrally therewith.

gust 24, 1e40, Serial No. and this application April lib,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view'oi" the clip of Fig. l, as when detached;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line "ii-23 of i;

Fig. 4 is a cross line -flof Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, the clip embodying the present invention comprises a bendable resilient metal strap 3 which is adapted to embrace a metallic conduit line A, with its loop portion 2 surrounding the line while its apertured terminal portions 3 are ex.- tended angularly from the loop portion and secured in abutting relation to one another and a metallic supporting structure B, by means of a screw 3 or other suitable fastening, the supporting structure representing, tor example, a metallic structural part of an airplane.

A line embracing cushion 5 is carried by the strap so as to lie between the icon portion 22 and the conduit in yielding contact with both, whereby a fullcushioned suport for the line is provided. This cushion is made of resilient rubber or other similar resilient and compressible material and preferably is tubular and surrounds the loop portion to prevent displacement thereof from the strap as might occur if the cushion were otherwiseiormed or secured on the strap. The cushion may be dipped in molten rubber or the like in such manner as to form the desired cushion on the strap.

In accordance with the present invention a resilient metallic grounding or bonding member 6 is fixed to the loop 2, for example, by being This permanently aflixed member 6 is constructed and protruded through the cushion in such manner that it will yieldingly contact the conduit A as shown in Fig. 3, while the cushion is at the same time effectively seated against the conduit. As will .be hereinafter described a plurality of the bonding members 6 may be provided.

' It should be noted that the bonding member 6 will be forced into or embedded in the material of the cushion so as to lie substantially flush therewith as shown in Fig. 3, when the clip is clamped upon the conduit as indicated in Fig. 1 and this arrangement insures a yielding yet positive contact of the member 8 with the conduit without interfering with the desired cushioning and vibration damping action of the cushion. I

As here shown the bonding member 6 is up set or struck inwardly from an intermediate part of the loop portion 2 of the strap I so that it sectionai view taken on the takes the fo m integral with .nrl t the manner hereinh-ehl To provide for tension a read; flexure thereof so th and. ilh will he formed and wil the conduit, said rnernhel. is "sent the strap proper and an croizirnatol; c its ends. Elsi: .eshou h m in or extent. o cu that e is rovided as '.how

pcr"ons and to. and 'WGELT, 3 c or iieidng oi" n'lemher forms o. hinge joint hetn an 62:.

It now seen that the member and substantially follows one contour ion and conduit, paritcularh the portions and 5b which form in effect, spaced bonding strips or loops for simultaneously yieldably contactinc the conduit. These portions Ga and do, except at their ends, lie upon and become pressed into the cushion as indicated in Fig. 3 when. the clip is clamped on the conduit, the inherent resiliency of the member 5, the added resiliency afforded by the cushion, the bend 6c and the cushion portions adjacentvthe bend, insuring a yielding and cushioning action and a good electrical hood between the strap and conduit, without undue .wecr, chafing, etc. which might be expected due to direct contact of the integral. bonding strip (parts 6a and Sb) with. the conduit.

Preferably the strap after having the bonding member struck therefrom or formed thereon. is dipped in the material for forming the cushion in. such manner that the strap becomes well coated and cushioned as to the loop portion El but not the terminal portions t nor the bonding strip portions in and 8b,. the bend to being coatedL and therefore covered by the web l as herebefore stated.

In forming the cushion before noted a groove or depression. is formed thereon at M in the outer face oi the strap "where the member 6 is strucl: or upset and this con toured formation increases the resiliency of the cushion adjacent and opposite the portions in and 6b, and between said portions and the strip proper provides resilient supporting webs therefor.

I may as here shown provide identical bondins members I at opposite sides or points in the loop portion 1 to insure an reflective cushioning and bonding action and better balance the clip, the conduit being in this case suspended between the two resllientbonding members while seated on the cushion and therefore uniformly contacted and supported in such manner as to achieve uniformity in the gripping and bonding of the conduit and avoid spot wear thereon.

It should be 'noted that the present invention includes the provision of a metallic bonding strip which is fixed to the loop portion or the metal strap at a point beneath and covered by the cushion to protect the electrical bond between the strip and the strap. In other words, the strip in the manner herein portion or r portion and protruding through have shown inven equivalents of the arrangement View c we appended clams. I l. a clip for metallic conduit line, member adapted to he moo with metallic suppc hr .el cushion of insu' n member; and a constituting an lntermed .te cited. member and protrurlino: of said cushion for contact W I embraced by said cushion.

2. In a clip for supporting and grounding a metallic conduit, a metal strap having loop tion for embracing a conduit line, tions adapted to be attached to a me supporting structure, a cushion of insult material lining said loop portion, a root bonding strip formed integral at one portion and protruding through ti. contact with the conduit line, a; l in said strip affording a flexure o 3. lhi clip for supporting c metallic conduit, 2. metal strap embracing a conduit terminal adapted to be attached to a metallic insula' maportions supporting: structure, a cushion of terlal lining said loop portion, a metal bonding strip formed integral at one end loop portion and protruding through the cushion for contact with the conduit line, and a hend formed in said strip affording a flexure point therein the portion of strip containing said bend being cow ered by said cushion.

i. In a clip for supporting and groimding a metallic conduit, a metal strap lilavlng loop pow tion for embracing a conduit line, terminal portlohs adapted to be attached to metallic supporting; structure, a. cushion of insulation material. lining said loop portion, a cl hondlng strip formed integral at one end wi 1 loop the cushion for contact with the conduit line. and a bend iormed in said strip aiiz'ording a flexurc point therein, the portion of the strip containing said bend being approximately centrally of the ends of the strip and covered by said cushion.

5. In a clip for :mpportlng and grounding a conduit. a metal strap having a loop portion for embracing a conduit line, and terminal portions adapted to ho attached to a metallic supporting structure, a cushion of insulation material lining said loop portion, and portions of said strap being struck inwardly at spaced points along the loop portion and protruding through the cushion to provide bonding strips disposed to contact the conduit embraced by said cushion.

HERMAN RAY ELLINWOOD.

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